14 Tuseday 30th August, 2011

BY HOWARD FENDRICH morning, after what the U.S. Tennis Association sional. I’m still as hungry.Everything’s still com- said was “minimal damage” to the site over the pletely normal,” he explained. “It’s just a number Amritha, Rohan and NEW YORK (AP) — First came the end of weekend from Tropical Storm Irene. that’s changed. I’m ready to go.” Roger Federer’s remarkable run of reaching a This U.S. Open also is Federer’s first major His resume is filled with some rather impres- record 10 consecutive finals. tournament since he turned 30 on Aug. 8. That sive numbers, including a total of 16 Grand Slam Lasantha win title doubles Then he failed to make it to a major semifinal age tends to represent a barrier to success in ten- titles and five consecutive U.S. Open champi- after a record 23 in a row. nis: Of the past 100 Grand Slam titles, only five onships from 2004-08, before his 40-match win- in Tennis Nationals The U.S. Open marks Federer’s last chance to were won by a man past his 30th birthday.The ning streak at Flushing Meadows ended in the prevent the close of another streak: In each sea- last to do it was Andre Agassi at the 2003 2009 final against Juan Martin del Potro. Last BY REVATA S. SILVA son from 2003-10, he won at least one Grand Slam . year, Federer lost in the semifinals to Novak title — and sometimes as many as three. He’s 0- Federer, though, said that his age hasn’t affect- Djokovic. Amritha Muttiah Final: Upali Rajakaruna for-2011 heading into the year’s last major tourna- ed his expectations. For his career, Federer is 223-33 in Grand Slam (Women’s Singles and Mixed (1) bt Gamini Dissanayake ment, where play is scheduled to begin Monday “Hasn’t changed anything. I’m still as profes- matches, an .871 winning percentage. He can tie Doubles, partnering Rajeev (2) Agassi for the second-most victories at majors — Rajapakse), Rohan de Silva Semi-finalists: Sunil P. Jimmy Connors retired with 233 — by beating (Men’s Over-35 Singles and Perera (3) and Mahanama 54th-ranked Santiago Giraldo of Colombia (who, for the record, is 2-10 in Grand Slam play) on Doubles, partnering Dan Basnayake (4) Monday. Mukundan) and Lasantha de Wheelchair Doubles: They were slated to play their first-round Silva (Men’s Over-45 Singles Final: Gamini match in the Arthur Ashe Stadium last night, and Doubles, partnering Dissanayake & Sunil P. after seven-time major champion Sylvester Francis) won a Perera (2) bt Upali meets Vesna Dolonts of Russia. double of titles each in this Rajakaruna & Mahanama Other matches on the Day 1 schedule include year’s main annual domestic Basnayake (1) 2006 U.S. Open champion tennis tournament, the 96th Semi-finalists: N.G. against Heather Watson of Britain; reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova against Sri Lanka Nationals, which Balasooriya & H.M.L. Alexandra Dulgheru of ; 2010 U.S. Open ended at the SLTA hard Senarathne (4) and T.B. runner-up against Stephanie courts in Colombo on Nandasena & Nishantha Foretz Gacon of France; 19-year-old American Saturday, Aug. 27. Wanninayaka Ryan Harrison against No. 27-seeded Marin Cilic OVERALL WINNERS MEN’S SENIOR of Croatia; and No. 8 Mardy Fish — the highest- LIST - EVENTS seeded American in New York for the first time OPEN EVENTS Men’s Over-35 Singles: — against Tobias Kamke of Germany. With 2005, 2009 and 2010 champion Kim Women’s Singles: Final: Rohan de Silva (1) Clijsters sidelined by a stomach muscle injury, Final: Amritha Muttiah bt Anjuna Anthony (2) the third-seeded Sharapova joins Williams’ (1) bt Nilushi Fernando (2) Semi-finalists: Ravi younger sister, Serena, as the women considered Semi-finalists: Thisuri Subramaniam and Lasantha most likely to win the title two weeks from now. Molligoda and Sherene de Silva “I mean, to be honest, I have been seeded a lot Wijesinghe Men’s Over-35 Doubles: lower, and I’ve still been one of the favorites,” Men’s Singles: Final: Rohan de Silva & Sharapova said, “so it’s not anything new for me Final: Thangarajah Dan Mukundan (1) bt that people expect me to do well.” For the first time since the 2004 Australian Dineshkanthan (1) bt Anjuna Anthony and Open, neither Federer nor Rafael Nadal is seeded Amresh Jayawickrema (2) Chammika de Silva (2) No. 1 at a Grand Slam tournament. Semi-finalists: Vimuktha Semi-finalists: Ayendra Instead, that honor went to Djokovic, who is de Alwis and Tanveer Ashiq Bandaranaike & Rajeev producing one of the greatest seasons in tennis Men’s Doubles: Cassiechetty and T. history.He’s 57-2 with nine titles, including at Final: Harshana Dissanayake & R.L. Wimbledon and the Australian Open. He’s also 5-0 against Nadal, with all of those matchups coming Godamanna & Sankha Kuruppuarachchi in tournament finals: two on hard courts, two on Atukorale (2) bt Amresh Men’s Over-45 Singles: clay, and one on grass at the All England Club Jayawickrema & Jayendra Final: Lasantha de Silva last month. Wijeysekera (4) bt Ravi Subramaniam (1) “The record speaks for itself,” Federer said. Semi-finalists: Heera Semi-finalists: T. P. “It’s been an amazing run, and he’s still playing really well, and he’s definitely one of the Ashiq & Tanveer Ashiq and Gamage and Sylvester favorites here — if not the favorite.” Rohan de Silva and Artha Francis (2) With two-time U.S. Open runner-up Djokovic Hewacottege (3) Men’s Over-45 Doubles: at No. 1, and defending champion Nadal at No. 2, Mixed Doubles: Final: Lasantha de Silva Federer is seeded No. 3, his lowest spot in New Final: Amritha Muttiah & Sylvester Francis (2) bt York since he was 13th in 2002. Even though Federer only has one title so far & Rajeev Rajapakse (1) bt Chammika de Silva & Aruna this season, his lowest total in a decade, and he’s Shalini de Silva & Seneviratne (1) gone the past six major tournaments without a Thangarajah Semi-finalists: T. P. championship, he’s sure he has more success in Dineshkanthan (2) Gamage & Sunil Rajapakse store. He still is capable of producing masterful Semi-finalists: Kemalie and Ramesh Fernando & tennis, such as when he ended Djokovic’s 43- match winning streak by beating him in the Herath & Amresh Chandana Rajaguru semifinals. Jayawickrema and Nilushi Men’s Over-55 Singles: That’s why someone such as seven-time major Fernando & Artha Final: Sunil Rajapakse (1) champion John McEnroe doesn’t discount Hewacottege bt Gananatha Indrakumar Federer’s chances of collecting a 17th Grand WHEELCHAIR (2) Slam trophy at some point. “This guy is arguably the greatest of all EVENTS Semi-finalists: Gavin time,” McEnroe said. “He’s still playing some Wheelchair Men’s Perera and L.F.N. great tennis.” Singles: Senanayake. Roger Federer

BY CHATHURA PINNAWALA the party went peer-shaped when Suresh– Kawasaki KDX, 2. Susil Shavindu Shenal Nithiksha- Yamaha Aravindh- TVS RTR, 3. C.S Santhosh- informed by the officials of his blunder. Chandana- Suzuki TSR, 3. Kamal Group MX- Motorcross bikes up to TVS RTR C. S. Santhosh may have won the final The money gained from the event will Chaminda– Kawasaki 85cc (2T) & upto 150cc (4T) (Under-16 Group SM- Super Motard upto race and the Hans Ralf Rolling Trophy fill up the welfare accounts of the brave Group SL-A Mini 7 1000cc: 1. K. years): 1. Shehan C. Adikari- Honda CR, 450cc (2T & 4T): 1. Suraj Perera- Honda for the best rider, but it was his fellow soldiers’ families who sacrificed their Parameswaran- Austin Mini, 2. 2. Buddika Kasun Silva- Honda CR, 3. CRF, 2. Thusitha Gunasekara- Honda CR, countryman K. P. Aravindh, who acted lives during the war and to develop the Shashika Wijayarathna– Austin Mini, 3. Evon Gurusinghe- Honda CR 3. Ramal Pathirathne- Honda CRF as the unsung hero on his mate’s behalf infrastructure for the current soldiers. W. Wickremasinghe– Austin Mini Group M- STD/MOD Street trail Group SL-H Cars up to 1600cc: 1. as he shielded Santhosh from Sri Lanka sensation Gayan Sandaruwan, who even- tually finished 3rd in the final race of the Gajaba Super Cross 2011 at Saliyapura, Anuradhapura, on Sunday Neighbours share the spoils (28). The Gajaba Super Cross, in its 10th edition, was organized by the Gajaba Regiment in association with the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers at Gajaba Super Cross and Riders. 23 events were conducted of which 10 were for cars. Earlier, in the first championship bike race, Gayan Sandaruwan showed that this is one of his pet tracks by overtak- ing Aravindh amidst roaring crowd sup- port, in the 4th lap in the 8 lap race to clinch first position, while Santhosh had to settle for 3rd, due to some problems with his bike. The rule book was tested to the heart as Santhosh won the final race. Pasindu Peiris made up for the disap- pointment as he captured the Best Driver honour (Major General WDGA Gunasekara Rolling Trophy) by virtue of winning both the SL-GL 3500cc champi- onship races. His above the common moment came when he passed Dinesh Deheragoda who was on pole at the start and romped home with a massive dis- tance in the SL-GL 3500cc first race. But Ashan Silva had his number in both Group SL-H 1600cc events, easing to two comfortable wins. Shehan C. Adikari too gathered plenty of gold to carry home as he won three races, while Pasindu Peiris in action. Upulwan Serasinghe’s accident. Shaveen Abishek Wanaguru, who won the Under-10 event on his Yamaha and received an unforgettable green light to Results SLN Cars- Ford Laser/Mazda up to 250cc (2T & 4T): 1. Sampath Ashan Silva- Honda Civic, 2. Pasindu a potential racing career as he grasped Group SL- H Cars up to 1600cc: 1. 1300cc: 1. Upulwan Serasinghe– Ford Kumara- Yamaha WRF, 2. Roshan Peiris- Honda EG-6, 3. Upulwan the Special Rolling Trophy for the Best Ashan Silva– Honda Civic, 2. Pasindu Laser, 2. Harsha Wijethunga- Ford Laser, Wickremarachchi- KTM, 3. Dinesh Serasinghe- Honda CIR Young Rider. Peiris– Honda EG-6, 3. Upulwan 3. Sujith Wijewardena- Ford Laser Anuruddha- Yamaha WRF Group T & J- OPEN: 1. Dinesh The spectators weren’t deprived of Serasinghe– Honda SIR, SL-GT Cars upto 3500cc: 1. Pasindu Group MX- Motorcross Bikes up to Senanayake- Toyota RAV 4, 2. Ravi jaw dropping and sometimes scary Group J- Racing Motorcycles up to Peiris– Mitsubishi Evo IX, 2. Gamini 125cc (2T & 4T): 1. Shehan C. Adikari- Mayadunne- Toyota Land Cruiser, 3. moments as well, as Upulwan 85cc- Under-13 years: 1. Jacques Nelson- Mitsubishi Evo 6, 3. Dinesh Honda CR, 2. Deshan Solanki- Yamaha Deepthi Perera- Mitsubishi EV 55 W Weerasinghe, driving his Ford Laser try- Gunawardena– Honda CR, 2. Hasindu Deheragoda- Mitsubishi Evo 10 RS YZ, 3. Mithun Jayasanka Sigera- Honda SL-GT- Cars up to 3500cc (Race 2): ing to overtake Chaminda Weerasuriya Gunasekara- Yamaha YZ, 3. Binula Group MX- Motocross bikes up to CR 1. Pasindu Peiris- Mitsubishi EVO IX crashed against a barrier and went fly- Kithalagama- Honda CR 85cc (2T) & upto 150cc (4T) (Under Group SM- Super Motard up to 2. Gamini Nelson- Lancer EVO 6, 3. ing through the air. Forces Event- Motor Cycles Up to 16 years): 1. Shehan C. Adikari- Honda 250cc (2T &4T): 1. Thusitha Nalin D. Perera- Subaru Impreza STI Admirably, Weerasinghe shrugged 125cc: 1. Ushan Silva– Honda CR, 2. CR, 2. Shanuka Sandaruwan- Honda CR, Gunasekara- Honda CR, 2. Shimal Group M- STD/MOD Street trail that off his shoulders and even compet- Mithun Jayasanka Sigera- Honda CR, 3. 3. Buddhika Silva- Honda CR Malavige- Yamaha YZ-F, 3. Lakshman OPEN (2T & 4T): 1. Sampath Kumara- ed in the later events. Duminda Sameera Pramarathne- Honda CR Group SL-A Cars up to 1050cc: 1. Anura Kumara- Honda CRF Yamaha WRF, 2. Haren Yatawaka- Jayasinghe also lost control of his Land Group N- Subaru up to 2200cc Non Ajith Keerthi- Austin Mini, 2. Sithara Group SL- N- Ford Laser /Mazda Yamaha WRF, 3. Dinesh Anuruddha- Rover and went upside down in Event 20. Turbo: 1. Shantha Suraweera- Subaru Peiris- Volkswagon Polo, 3. K. 1500cc: 1. Chaminda Weerasuriya- Ford Yamaha WR The farcical moment was provided by Legacy, 2. Sanjaya Senarath- Subaru Parameswaran- Austin Mini Laser, 2. Duminda Jayasinghe- Mazda Group MX- Motorcross bikes up to Lahiru Jeewantha, who passed leader Legacy, 3. Pradeep Wijesiriwardena- Group J- Motor Cycles PW & QR 323, 3. Devaka Peiris- Ford Laser 125cc (2T) & upto 250cc (4T) (Race 2): Dhammika Suresh at the completion of Subaru Legacy up to 50cc (Under-10 years): 1. Group MX- Motorcross bikes up to 1. C.S Santhosh- TVS RTR, 2. K.P the 3rd lap and forgot that the race was 4 Group M- STD/MOD Street trail Shaveen Abishek Wanaguru- Yamaha, 2. 125cc (2T) & upto 250cc (4T): 1. Gayan Aravindh- TVS RTR, 3. Gayan laps and began celebrating. Predictably, up to 125cc (2T & 4T): 1. Dhammika Vinushka Thrimalsha Siva- Yamaha, 3. Sandaruwan- Honda CRF, 2. K.P Sandaruwan- Honda CRF